Builders liability insurance holders have been warned about the dangers of asbestos following the prosecution of a North Lincolnshire ship breaking company.
Acetech Construction, of New Green Farm, Barrow Haven, pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was fined £3,400 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.
Scunthorpe Magistrates Court heard that Acetech purchased a Polish former fishing vessel for dismantling as scrap.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the firm had failed to carry out an adequate survey that would have highlighted the presence of asbestos containing materials before employees started work on the boat.
Kirsty Welsh, HSE inspector, said: "Had Acetech Construction carried out a full survey, assessed the risks and put in place systems to protect their workers, then any potential harm would have been avoided."
Recently, Britain's youngest asbestos victim Sophie Ellis, 18, died from mesothelioma after a five-year battle against the disease.